PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – ICE arrests in the Pittsburgh region surged this year, reaching their peak in July and August with roughly 140 arrests each month — more than double any monthly total seen in the previous two years. Arrests declined slightly in September as the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown approached its first-year mark.
From January through mid-October, at least 948 immigration-related arrests were recorded within a 50-mile radius of downtown Pittsburgh, more than three times the 275 arrests logged during the same period in 2024. Before the current administration, monthly arrests in Allegheny and surrounding counties ranged from a dozen to about 65, compared with a low of 48 this April before the summer spike. Most arrests occurred in or near Pittsburgh, though some took place at county jails, with Beaver County recording 23, Washington County 18, and Butler County 10. Despite not experiencing the highly publicized ICE surges seen in cities like Minneapolis, Charlotte, and Chicago, the Pittsburgh area has still seen significant activity throughout the year, including summer arrests at local restaurants, a midsummer enforcement blitz in Ambridge, efforts to involve local law enforcement in immigration enforcement, attempts to deport Guatemalan children in September, winter disruptions to refugee resettlement programs, and a January pause on refugee entry that has since expanded nationally.
Local responses to increased enforcement have included volunteer Rapid Response Networks documenting arrests, anti-Trump protests emphasizing immigration issues, and church efforts to provide sanctuary and support for Latino residents. Other regional impacts include a decline in international students at Carnegie Mellon University and adjustments by the University of Pittsburgh and other employers in response to new visa fees affecting skilled foreign workers.